It's Getting Close!

So this weekend was our traditional kids' weekend at Nana's. We have done these special weekends with just the grands almost since our first was born 22 years ago! And, we do them for almost every holiday throughout the year, but, because of my crazy love for Halloween, this one was always "over the top".

But, as the kids headed off to college, got jobs and other responsibilities of their own, getting them all here became a bit of a challenge. You would think I would have been willing to throw in the towel when football entered the picture as it not only consumes all Saturdays but every week night evening as well. But NO, as long as even one of the munchkins asks if we can do it, I am ready!

And so our 2018 weekend happened! If you are a faithful reader of this blog, you know that this is a time when I pull out all stops. We spend every minute of our time cooking, baking, crafting, playing games, watching movies and making gifts and decorations for all things that holiday themed. We have accomplished great things in our 22 years!

But, as I age and time becomes more and more precious, I find myself willing to let go of some of the glitz and just cherish the time we have together and the memories we can make.

And so, our weekend didn't disappoint! It started early Saturday morning with the first game and then back to my house where my brother and sister-in-law hosted an afternoon meal and we spent time making bracelets, talking and swimming until we were back at the field for the second game of the day!

The "littles" came home with me that night and we just had time to watch "The Addams Family" before it was well PAST bedtime!

In the morning, the kids wanted scrambled eggs and ghost pancakes and my little helper did a fine job on our ghostly friends.

The rest of the family soon joined us and since this was initially set up as a "chore" day, we headed to the field behind my house. My son-in-law wielded the chain saw and the rest of us followed by pulling the HUGE, stickery weeds to make some pathways and then cutting up the trees that were felled! As soon as we were done with that chore, we got to squeeze in a bit more Halloween fun.

We started by making "linner". The kids wanted mummy pizzas, spooky trees (also known as broccoli) and a salad. This meal was nowhere near as spooky or complicated as all of the ones in the past but somehow it didn't matter. They had fun and thought it was delicious!

Gotta love Halloween in Florida-when the kids had a few spare minutes, they spent them in the pool!

Then we were on to vampire mouth cookies for dessert.

Normally on this weekend, we would have done lots of crafting, baking and games but, quite honestly, we fit in much more than I thought we ever would. Presley did use her extra time making friendship bracelets and I was the recipient of some of her bling. I can always use another Halloween bracelet and I am sure I will wear it often!

I seriously have to chuckle when I look at these pictures because we were a mess but I am so thankful that the kids still want to be here and are happy to squeeze in time with Nana when they can that I cherish every minute we get-even if it doesn't look anything like our past years! The laughs and love are just as strong!! Stay tuned.